Salary Cap: Penguins Salary Cap Thread: We suck again summer edition

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Not trying to be snarky but I have no idea why year after year, PLD is this highly coveted player who people (league-wide, not around here) always bring up in trying to chase. Dude's gotta be one of the most overrated players in the game.

 

[TimmyD]

I realize this deal sorta sucks but hear me out.

Nurse is a big dumb LD that clears crease and eats ES minutes.

Doesn't do a lot of PP so can eat PK and ES minutes. At 7 million I think he is where he should have been signed. I'd even take a small + from them to even it out. I know it's an expensive move cap space wise but I think it solves the LD.

I would try and add a piece to Granlund so that we come out cap neutral even with the retention. I don’t love this move… but I could live with it

 

[ChaosAgent]

Not trying to be snarky but I have no idea why year after year, PLD is this highly coveted player who people (league-wide, not around here) always bring up in trying to chase. Dude's gotta be one of the most overrated players in the game.

The hyphen French Canadian name = enigmatic skill

I actually think that is it.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Not trying to be snarky but I have no idea why year after year, PLD is this highly coveted player who people (league-wide, not around here) always bring up in trying to chase. Dude's gotta be one of the most overrated players in the game.

Back to back 60+ point seasons and still only 24 y/o. 27 goals this year.
Pretty good power play goal scorer...26 over the last two years.

 

[Sideline]

Not trying to be snarky but I have no idea why year after year, PLD is this highly coveted player who people (league-wide, not around here) always bring up in trying to chase. Dude's gotta be one of the most overrated players in the game.

Big young centres that score near 30+30 are very hard to find.

 

[molon labe]

Sean Reynolds on the Kyper/Bourne show saying in his 'numerous' conversations with Hellebuyck he is "singularly focused on winning a cup"...

Make it happen Duber.

 

[mephisto1812]

If Zucker walks and Granlund stays, two big IFs, then this is probably the best lineup:

Guentzel - Crosby - Granlund
Rakell - Malkin - Rust

I don't love that. Would rather keep Zucker than Granlund. But if this is the top 6, this is how I'd deploy it. Rakell has position flexibility and his shot as a righty coming down the LW could be dangerous with Geno to feed him and Rust grinding the corners.

I'd get rid of Granlund however possible, even if that means a buyout. If Zuck walks, find a new LW, Granlund should go no matter what.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Big young centres that score near 30+30 are very hard to find.

Well one seemingly demands a trade every six months, so it must not be that difficult to find one on the block.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

I'd get rid of Granlund however possible, even if that means a buyout. If Zuck walks, find a new LW, Granlund should go no matter what.

Dream scenario is Zuck loves it here so much he takes a very nice team friendly, we wash ourselves from Granlund and we find a new winger for Geno

 

[Andy99]

Sean Reynolds on the Kyper/Bourne show saying in his 'numerous' conversations with Hellebuyck he is "singularly focused on winning a cup"...

Make it happen Duber.

Then why would he come to Pittsburgh lol?

 

[Empoleon8771]

Dream scenario is Zuck loves it here so much he takes a very nice team friendly, we wash ourselves from Granlund and we find a new winger for Geno

I don't think Zucker looks like he'd be all that useful on L3. I think he's a complementary guy on a scoring line, I don't think it makes sense to push him to L3.

I think the only guy in their top-6 that would make sense on a defensive 3rd line is Rust.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Then why would he come to Pittsburgh lol?

He has no say in his destination this summer unless management offer him that.

 

[Gurglesons]

Then why would he come to Pittsburgh lol?

Helle to LA makes the most sense IMO.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

If Zucker walks and Granlund stays, two big IFs, then this is probably the best lineup:

Guentzel - Crosby - Granlund
Rakell - Malkin - Rust

I don't love that. Would rather keep Zucker than Granlund. But if this is the top 6, this is how I'd deploy it. Rakell has position flexibility and his shot as a righty coming down the LW could be dangerous with Geno to feed him and Rust grinding the corners.

I hate that our usernames are so similar, because I despise that first line.

Granlund just needs to go. Period.

 

[Peat]

He has no say in his destination this summer unless management offer him that.

Since Winnipeg probably get a better return if teams are allowed to talk with him and negotiate a new contract in advance though, there seems a good chance he's offered that say.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

FYI just saw something interesting from Kypreos:

Nick Kypreos: What the Maple Leafs can learn from Adin Hill’s Stanley Cup final run with Golden Knights

The Leafs have plenty of options in goal, but after watching Hill’s playoff run the question is: how bold does GM Brad Treliving want to be?

www.thestar.com

If that's all he costs, I'm going to be livid if they don't bring him in to replace Zucker.

I also think there are some decent comparables you can point to that suggests the $4.5 million to $5 million range is pretty reasonable for Bunting. The best one is Mason Marchment, who signed a 4 year, $4.5 million AAV deal with Dallas after putting up 47 points in 54 games with Florida. I don't think Marchment quite had Bunting's resume, but I don't think it's far off either.

I think 5x5 would likely get it done with Bunting.

I like the idea of a player like Bunting.

I am wary, however, of the cost of bringing in a guy who has 2 playoff goals in 13 games and found himself a healthy scratch for Game 5 of the Tampa series.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I like the idea of a player like Bunting.

I am wary, however, of the cost of bringing in a guy who has 2 playoff goals in 13 games and found himself a healthy scratch for Game 5 of the Tampa series.

Bunting has 5 points in 13 playoff games. It's not anything great, but it's also better than Zucker who has 15 points in 46 playoff games.

Rakell isn't much better either, he only has 19 points in 48 playoff games in his career.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I just hope the last couple of years of Sid's career are more fun to watch than whatever this slopshit has been lately. Get some specialists. Get some guys who can score goals even if they suck defensively. Get some guys who bring a physical element.

Team's done competing, at least be worth watching. /shrug

 

[AuroraBorealis]

I think the only guy in their top-6 that would make sense on a defensive 3rd line is Rust.

Rakell might work, depending on who our 3C is. GCR was working well in half 2 and Rak + Malkin doesn't.
Rakell's L3 lines succeeded, albeit in a small sample size. Plus I think him being there would balance out line deployment, both in minutes and O-zone starts, enabling L3 to score more.

Rakell's 5v5 P/P60 was 1.75. That's with very privileged usage. While that's fine, it's like average at best for a top 6 wing. It's basically the same as Nylander's career 5v5 rate.
It's a mark Rust could pass next season pretty easily with a bounceback.

So I don't see that his absence in the top 6 would be crippling, especially if he's gonna defend like he did since New Year's.
He may find chemistry with the new 3C and make matchups difficult for our opponents.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Rakell might work, depending on who our 3C is. GCR was working well in half 2 and Rak + Malkin doesn't.
Rakell's L3 lines succeeded, albeit in a small sample size. Plus I think him being there would balance out line deployment, both in minutes and O-zone starts, enabling L3 to score more.

Rakell's 5v5 P/P60 was 1.75. That's with very privileged usage. While that's fine, it's like average at best for a top 6 wing. It's basically the same as Nylander's career 5v5 rate.
It's a mark Rust could pass next season pretty easily with a bounceback.

So I don't see that his absence in the top 6 would be crippling, especially if he's gonna defend like he did since New Year's.
He may find chemistry with the new 3C and make matchups difficult for our opponents.

When Rakell wasn't playing with Crosby or Malkin, he had a 31% offensive zone start% in 125 minutes. I don't think Rakell being on L3 would change Sullivan's usage of L3 at all.

 

[Darren McCord]

Geno has one of the best shots in the NHL to this day. It's a reason I could see him moving to wing with Sid or an addition of a top 6 C at some point. He still passes great but his game is better suited to roaming in the O-Zone and sniping and for whatever reason the chips have never fallen that way.

Phil also had a vicious shot. What are you talking about here. Phil sucked at one timers but if he had the puck for a half move or greater he could pick any spot on net.

But yes - again, I love the idea of a net front. I said the other day that a Hellebuyck/Hornqvist (esque) addition takes this team to the playoffs next year no matter that Sully is here with his stubborn idiocies.

This is categorically false. Kessel was dangerous as soon as he approached the top of the circles. The velocity and chaning plane of his shots are notorious.

You don't need to have a bomb/speed of a shot for it to be dangerous.

Look at Sid and Geno. Both are pretty great goal scorers, but how they get their goals could not be more different, but they are both dangerous in different ways.

Phil had a fantastic shot but I think by vicious i was talking about a heavy one. Phil was more of a sick wrister. Jake has a great shot to but I wouldn't call it vicious. To me vicious is a heavy one timer. Geno is the only guy on this team with that. Neal was the only other one in the past decade maybe.

If the Pens part with Zucker, there is only 1 F on this team that can score at long range: Malkin

That's a MAJOR problem with this team and probably a large part of their lack of finishing issues



They need another top 6 F if Zucker goes away

Not a Taresenko though. I don't think he brings what they need in the top 6.

 

[tom_servo]

When Michael Bunting's name comes up:

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Bunting has 5 points in 13 playoff games. It's not anything great, but it's also better than Zucker who has 15 points in 46 playoff games.

Rakell isn't much better either, he only has 19 points in 48 playoff games in his career.

I'm also concerned that Bunting is far too reliable on excellent playmakers to score.

How much of his production is because of playing with Matthews and Marner? As a late-blooming power forward with a short history in the NHL, I think that's something to be mindful of.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

I would actually do that Granlund for Nurse deal but there's no chance Nurse would waive his NMC nor would Edmonton do that trade.

Thanks I was trying to think outside the box. I feel like I'm parroting the same names as other posters.

I think our board has done a good job zoning in on LDs we want and some top 9 options

 

[Empoleon8771]

I'm also concerned that Bunting is far too reliable on excellent playmakers to score.

How much of his production is because of playing with Matthews and Marner? As a late-blooming power forward with a short history in the NHL, I think that's something to be mindful of.

Too bad the Penguins don't have any of those on their team.

I am superbly not concerned about how Bunting would perform here because he's being put in a terrific position to succeed here. I would expect Zucker-like production from Bunting if you played him with Malkin and Rakell/Rust for a full season.